Special Meals on QF local/ international Flights

[blackcat20]

I wonder if I can order a special meal, take a look at it and then request a regular meal because it's "horrendous". Tempted to do this for my trip to LOTFAP to see how special these special meals are. Can anyone comment on recent QFi diabetic or gluten free offerings on QF11/12?

Not in my (limited) experience. The woman next to me on a flight to LA was vegetarian; they served her the same curry for dinner and breakfast. She requested the normal breakfast (eggs and bacon), saying that she would just eat around the bacon, and was told no.

 

[The Rok]

I can't stand mushrooms, I should be able to ore order a mushroom free meal.

 

[curiost]

Vegetarian meals, why punish us with gross desserts?

Are there any other people who order vego meals (lacto ovo) who are really annoyed at getting the gross gluten free gluggy desserts as part of their meal in economy? I dont understand why the standard meals get mini chocolate bars or muffins or yummy things, whilst on vegetarian meals they have those Rowies branded gluten free muffin things. Its been the same dessert for years now, and I just dont understand why on earth they give vegos awful desserts! I thought initially it may have been because they made the one special meal which encompassed gluten free and vego to be more efficient in their meal prep, but the meals that vegos get have gluten in them (as stated on the lid), so why the gluten free dessert? I used to ask for a normal dessert if there were any left, but the CSMs looked at me like I was just being greedy so now I dont bother.

Ive emailed the customer care centre once before about this, who replied with the standard: we have recevied your correspondence and value your input blah blah blah.

Any one else there with this problem? Is there anything we can do, or are vegos just permanently stuck with gluten free glug for sweets?

 

[curiost]

Re: Vegetarian meals, why punish us with gross desserts?

Mods, Can we merge this with the Special Meals on QF thread , I only just saw it!! Looks like I was thinking the exact same thing.

 

[curiost]

OMG!!!! I thought it was just me!!!
Im so over those ghastly heart shaped friands and dried mush they think resembles a vegetarian meal that I politely hand it back and ask if they FA would eat it. The answer is always a resounding NO!.

Im going to start doing this!! I just independantly started a similar thread re the dusty muffin recycled cardboard cake and then spied this post. Ive requested a merge so I can have my rant

 

[NM]

Re: Vegetarian meals, why punish us with gross desserts?

I assume its a case of keeping the number of variables to a minimum at the catering side. If the regular meal components can't be verified to meet the dietary requirements of the various special meals, then finding a "lowest common denominator" option for the desert that can be used for all the variations of Veitarian, religious variations (Hindu, Kosher, Halal etc), and medical variations (Diabetic, Gluten Free, Low Fat, allergen-free etc). That way all they need to produce is the "Regular" and the "Special", making it easier to cater and meet the various requirements for the price people are willing to spend on an airline ticket.

The "pro" for this method is that it keeps the costs down and this is what customer are demanding at their highest priority in selecting a an airline.

The "con" for this method is that the lowest-common-denominator has to eliminate all the components that represent texture and flavour in order to achieve the goal of being served on as many special meal types as possible.

 

[NM]

Re: Vegetarian meals, why punish us with gross desserts?

Mods, Can we merge this with the Special Meals on QF thread , I only just saw it!! Looks like I was thinking the exact same thing.

Done .....

 

[Queenotisblue]

I don't mind being served at a different time but what I resent are the terrible meals. I can't eat wheat used to request gluten free meals. The meals I received I think covered a number of intolerances, such as dairy and something else. Looked and tasted terrible. I don't bother ordering a different meal now.

 

[kw1]

I appreciate there are economies of scale and efficiencies when it comes to supplying specific meals, however there is very little variety. Regular meals are rotated quite often, but not the special ones.

The FAs are usually quite sympathetic when I decline the heart shaped cake and replace it with something more palatable.

incidentally, an epi-pen provides temporary relief, it is not a remedy.

Kw1, I missed the point of your question and you will have to ring QF and ask them otherwise go vego for the flight. I eat poultry but don't risk that not being offered by choosing VGML (which also avoids nuts).

Ashleyn, go on, we don't bite - well I don't

The point of my post was to ask if there was any way to ensure i can have a note to say 'please don't serve me the seafood option' onboard. Im not asking for a special meal, I'm just after the 'other' choice.

Unfortunately its a bit hard to 'eat around' a piece of salmon etc as suggested by missafternoondelight.

 

[curiost]

I flew Emirates this morning, the first time in years in which I hadn't ordered a vego meal in the hope of getting an op up (no luck), and I think the "muffin" served with breakfast would put the stale QF gluten free cake thing in vego meals a run for its money. It was this rock hard muffin (very unappealing) and it was also refrigerated for waaaaaay too long.

The food overall in Emirates I thought was quite disappointing compared to other airlines (although the seats were comfy).

 

[DrA]

I am both gluten intolerant and allergic to dairy. I tend to stick with the regular meals on flights though, because not only are the special meals terrible (or not even an option on some airlines/routes), but it's also happened that my special meal hasn't been loaded on board more than once. It also helps my chances of an upgrade by not having a special meal listed

Honestly, it's easier to just eat something at home or in the lounge before I board, pack some snacks myself in my carry-on, and hope for the best on board. Even with the regular meal choices, there's usually something I can eat or eat around. If not, I have snacks in my bag! Even on a long haul to LA I can survive on snacks if I feed enough before I board.

 

[JessicaTam]

Does having a special meal specified really influence whether is op-up is offered?

 

[pauly7]

Does having a special meal specified really influence whether is op-up is offered?

Some adamantly believe so and logically there is a good argument for that.

 

[DrA]

Does having a special meal specified really influence whether is op-up is offered?

If I could actually access the QF website right now...I believe they even specify this themselves.

In the information regarding using points for upgrades (especially for gate upgrades - which I have been lucky enough to receive for both points and freebies), it suggests that to improve your chances, that you not have any special requests. I am recalling this off the top of my head, but I'm 99.9% certain I read that on the QF website. And special meals would count as a special request, no?

 

[RickyT84]

Speaking of the Rowie's heart shaped gluten free muffins, I was pleasantly surprised when I was presented with a Rowie's 'Breakfast Bite' with my Asian vegetarian dinner (which was noddles in a coconut curry sauce and was not that great). The cake was crunchy and tasty.

A thumbs up from me.

 

[JessicaTam]

Thanks pauly7 and DrA for the info. I specify a special meal and have only had one op-up as a WP. It was after QF81/82 so may not be a co-incidence.